Concrete-arch construction.



No. 764,303. PATENTED JULY 5; 1904. W. G. PARMLEY.

GONGR ETE ARCH CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION FILED HOV.9,1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES; Ila/15R C/ /lfi/VZDC INVENTOR.

- 7 1 /yxr WALTER C. PARMLEY,

Patented July 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE...

OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

CONCRETE-ARCH CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 764,303, dated July 5, 1904;.

Application filed November 9, 1903. Serial No. 180,358. (No modeLl To all w/wm it mrty concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER O. PARMLEY, a cltizen of the United States,residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful improvement in Concrete-Arch Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved form and use of concrete and steel in the construction of arches, conduits, sewers, &c.;land it has for its object the production of structures of this character which are economical in construction both as regards the material employed and the time required in building and which is when constructed strong and durable. These objects I attain in the various structures shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a transverse sectional view of a tubular arch in which the lower part or invert is composed of blocks of molded concrete, terra-cotta, or the like, while the remaining portion of the arch is formed of monolithic concrete and steel. Fig. 2 shows a modified form of the structure shown in Fig. 1 in which a metal bar passes entirely about the intrados of the arch, the blocks in the invert being especially formed to receive said bar. Fig. 3 shows a sectional view taken through the lower portion of Fig. 2 substantially on the line 3 3. Fig. 4: shows a form of arch in which the upper part is formed of blocks of concrete or terra-cotta, the same being recessed so as to receive the desired shape of strengthening-bar. Fig. 5 shows a section taken through Fig. i substantially on the line 5 5 of that ligu're. Fig. 6. shows a portion of an arch that is composed of blocks of concrete, terra-cotta, or other analogous substance in which the blocks are molded so as to accommodate any form of transverse bar that is to pass therethrough. Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal section through Fig. 6, taken on the line7 7 and Fig. 8shows a sec: tion through said figure, taken on the line 8 8. Fig. 9 shows a view similar to Fig. 6, except that the recesses are of varying-depth, accord-x.

ingto the location and curvature of the bars;- tl1 ere1 n. Fig, 10 shows a longitudinal section i through an arch in which a bonding-block is shown combined with the ordinary ring-blocks and metal bars. Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9, except that the bonding-block is recessed on its inner side. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through an arch, showing short longitudinal bars embedded in the radial joints; and Fig. 13 shows an arch in which the diflerent rings are separated by a space that is afterward filled with concrete that is deposited in place.

, In the building of a conduit or sewer-for example, in a trench-it is very difficult, especially if there is encountered a considerable quantity of ground water, to prevent the water from forcing or washing more or less of the cement out of thcmortar that is employed in the lower parts and sides of the structure. It is also diflicult to form the concrete against. the under side of a form or against the forms controlling the side contour oi the structure without leaving voids on the interiorsur'face. In the case of tunnel construction it is difiicult to place the metal bars and get them embeddedv inthe concrete in a satisfactory manner on account of the cramped position the men must assume in. performing the work, the lack of headroom, and the difficulty of lighting every part of the work while building. A still further diliiculty that is encountered in the building of concrete and steel construction as usually performed in open excavations and to a still greater extent in tunnels. is the necessity of leaving the arch centering in position for several days for the concrete to harden before it can be removed. As will be seen, this involves a large expense for centering and often, especially in tunnel operations, delays the progress of the work.

The difliculties above enumerated are ontirely overcome or are very greatly minimized by the use I make of molded concrete blocks and steel or molded concrete blocks, monolithic concrete, and steel.

In thedrawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, A, Fig. 1, represents blocks of concrete, terra-cotta, or other a suitable material that are molded or formed into the proper shape to give the desired contour to the invert of the arch. That portion of the arch which is above blocks A and which is indicated at B is composed of cement that is formed about the bars C and H in substantially the same manner as is described in my Patent No. 696,838, that was granted to me April 1, 1902. As will be noticed, the bars terminate in the concrete above the blocks A. In this form of arch the ground water which may be encountered will not rise above the blocks A and will not, therefore, wash or force the cement out of the concrete B. It will further be seen that no centering is required for the invert of the arch, and there is no occasion for endeavoring to force the plastic concrete beneath said centering, which operation usually results in leaving voids on the interior surfaces. Inasmuch as the blocks A are of considerable size, the number of cement joints between the same are reduced to a minimum, thus avoiding to a large extent the difficulty of depositing concrete in the water.

In the form shown in Figs. 2 and 3 one of the bars C passes entirely about through the intrados'of the arch, and to accommodate said bar the blocks A in the invert are formed with recesses, as shown at D. This form of arch is employed where it is necessary to reinforce the invert with metallic bars, said bars passing through the portion of the complete work where it will act most effectually in Withstanding the tensile strains in the structure. The blocks are set in mortar in the ordinary way, and the bars C may be put in position either before or after the block is set, after which the recesses D are completely filled with mortar, as indicated at E. While Fig. 3 shows the notch D as formed in one of the blocks only, it will be understood that the two adjacent blocks may be grooved, so that the recesses will lie partly in each of them. The upper part of the arch in Fig. 2 is made of concrete in a plastic condition, which is formed around the metallic bars therein in the same manner as is described in my patent above referred to. Since the bar C in Fig. 2 passes entirely through the intrados of the arch, it will be understood that the recesses in the blocks A are comparatively shallow and substantially of equal depth in all of the blocks. It frequently happens, however, that bars of irregular. shape are preferable in the arch, and to accommodate these bars the recesses must be formed of much greater depth than those shown in Fig. 3. Thus in the form shown in Figs. 4 to 8, inclusive, bars 0 pass through the intrados at the crown and through the extrados at the haunches of the arch. The

blocks A are so made as to finish with their mortar joints along the intrados; but their recesses .D are made of such a depth as will permit the bars C to approach close to the intrados linethat is to say, the recesses will be of equal depth in each of the blocks and will extend through the block with the exception of the thin portion. n ext tothe; intra- 6 on the line 7 7, the bars (J lying near the intrados of the arch. Fig. 8 shows a section through this same figure on the line 8 8, the bars C appearing near the extrados of the arch. This form of block is adapted to be used with any desired form of transverse bar, as the bar may approach as near to the intrados as is practicable and may extend entirely through the extrados. It may be stated that it is entirely immaterial whether the bars are set in place before or after the blocks are built into position; but it will generally be found to be most convenient to place theblocks first.

In case the exact location of the metal bars is known beforehand it may be desired to mold each block for the particular position in which it is to be set. In this case the recesses in each block will be made only deep enough from the extrados to allow the bar to take the position desired. Such a form is shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, in which the bar C passes through the intrados at the crown and through the extrados at the haunches, the depth of the recesses in the blockA conforming to the position and curvature of the bars therethrough. By such a structure any irregularity in the curvatureof the bars would be corrected by the arch-blocks, as'the bars would be forced to a bearing on the bottom of the recesses providedfor them. The ringjoints or the joints that lie in planes at right angles to the axis of the arch are quite thin below or within the bars C the recessed part of the joints extending from the bar outwardly to the extrados.

In the construction of arches it is generally desired that the same be bonded together lon gitudinally. This bonding is, easily accomplished where these molded concrete or terracotta blocks are employed by inserting as often as may be necessary special bondingblocks. ordinary ring-blocks above described, except that they are increased in length, so as to'extend into the next ring of masonry. Thus in Fig. 10 A represents the regular archblocks, the block at the left being in a completed ring of the arch. F represents a bonding-block which is set in position as the next ring is built up, said block being preferably of double the length of the ordinary ringblocks A. Crepresents a transverse metallic strengthening-bar which is embedded in the recess D, as heretofore described. Preferably this bar would be placed in position before These bonding-blocks are simply the As will also be seen, the rethe ring of which F is the header member is built up. This ring is then built into position with the bonding-block F projecting over into the plane of the nextring. The bar C is then are nearer the intrados than the extrados a I slight modification of the bonding-block is desir-able, such a structure being shown in Fig. 11, in which the bonding-block is recessed on the intrados at D and on the extrados side at D.

Owing to the fact that the blocks of which the arch is formed are of hard material, it follows that the centering which is employed in the construction of the arches may be struck or removed shortly after the arch has been keyed up. If it is not desired to remove the centering immediately, the bonding of the arch may be effected by omitting the bonding-blocks above described-and by filling in the spaces they had otherwise occupied with fresh concrete, which will completely bond any of the adjacent rings together. A further bonding may also be effected by embedding metal strips or bars in the radial joints as the blocks are set in position. These strips may extend continuously throughout the length of the structure or they may be short detached bars inserted only when found necessary. Such a structure is illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings, which shows a radial longitudinal section of the arch, in which the transverse strengthening-bars are shown at C, While the short longitudinal bars are shown at G, said bars being embedded in the radial arch-joints as the work progresses. By this means a complete transverse longitudinal metal skeleton is provided in arches which are built of hardened blocks. All of the advantages are obtained, therefore, in regard to ease and'speed of erection in tunnels or open cuttings or in the easy removal of the arch-centerings that are found in any stone or brick arch, and in addition to these ad vantages is that of having a structure which is strongly reinforced by metallic bars.

Referring again to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noticed that with the hardened blocks A, I have combined transverse strengthening-bars H, that pass continuously through all the regions of tension in the intrados of the arch, and 0 that pass through part only of said tensional regions, said latter bars also pass ing through regions of tension in the extrades.

In, Fig. 13 I have shown a modification that is slightly different from that shown in Figs. 4 and 5, in that the recesses or notches extend entirely through the blocks, so that the rings of the arch are entirely separated.

After building up the rings the concrete E is I deposited in position so as to embed the trans- In a short time the entering verse bars. may be removed, as it is evident that the arch will be sustained by the solid rings formed by the hardened blocks. I By the term hardened blocks as used in the claims I intend to include hard blocks of alldescriptions, natural or artificial, that are distinguished from blocks that may be formed by depositing concrete in place and permitting it to harden subsequently. The terms bars and concrete herein employed are intended to have the same scope and meaning as in my former patent above referred to.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks that are provided with recesses or notches, the blocks being placed so that the recesses form grooves extendingtransversely of the arch, and metallic bars in said grooves, said bars extending through regions of tension in both the intrados and the extrados of the arch.

2. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks that are provided with recesses or notches on their extrados sides, said recesses being of varying depths and the blocks being placed so that the recesses form grooves extending transversely of the arch, and metallic bars resting in said grooves and bent so as to conform to the variations in depth of the grooves.

3. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks that are provided with re cesses or notches on their extrados sides, said recesses being of varying depths and the blocks being placed so that the recesses form grooves extending transversely of the arch, metallic bars resting in said grooves and bent so as to conform to the variations in depth of the grooves, and concrete in said grooves embedding the bars.

4:. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks forming transverse rings, and concrete inserted so as to form a body occupying apart of a plurality of adjacent rings.

5. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened ring-blocks with bonding-blocks,

each of said blocks being recessed or notched ITO and being so placed that the recesses form grooves extending transversely of the arch,

and metallic bars in said grooves. I

6. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened ring-blocks with bonding-blocks,

each of said blocks being recessed or notched and being so placed that the recesses form grooves extending transversely of the arch; metallic bars in said grooves, and cement in the grooves embedding the bars.

7. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks that are provided with recesses or notches'on their extrados side, said 'intrados, and metallic bars embedded in the notches.

8. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened blocks that are recessed or notched, said recesses being of varying depths, the blocks being placed so that the recesses form a groove extending transversely of the arch, metallic bars following the curvature of the bottom of the grooves and embedded in the latter, and longitudinal bars embedded in the radial joints between the blocks.

9. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened ring-blocks and hardened bondingblocks, the bonding-blocks being longer than the ring-blocks, and all of said blocks being recessedor notched, the blocks being placed so that the recesses form transverse grooves, metallic bar-s embedded in said grooves, and longitudinal bars embedded in the radial joints between the blocks.

10. In an arch structure, the combination of hardened ring-blocks and hardened bondingblocks, the bonding-blocks being larger than the ring-blocks, and all of said blocks being recessed or notched, the recesses being of varying depths and the blocks being so placed that the recesses :form grooves extending transversely of athearc'h, metallic bars followin g thecurvature of the'zbottom of the grooves through the blocks, cement for filling said grooves and for embedding the bars therein, and other bars embedded in the radial joints and extending longitudinally of the arch.

11. In an arch structure, rings composed of hardened blocks, said rings being spaced apart, transverse bars lying parallel with the intrados in the spaces between the rings, and. concrete deposited in said spaces so as to embed the bars.

12. Inan arch structure, rings composed of hardened blocks, saidrings being spaced apart, bars in the spaces between the rings, said bars passing through regionsof tension in both the extrados and intrados of the arch andconcrete deposited in said spaces so as to embed the ars.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

WALTER C. PARMLEY.

Witnesses:

S. E. Fours, C. MoELRoY. 

